‘God always gives His best to those who
leave the choice with Him.’
Jim Elliot
According
to the Oxford Dictionary, ‘faith’ means ‘having complete trust or confidence in someone or something’.
While addressing the Church at Corinth on the issue of imminent physical death
and the hope of resurrection that we have as believers, Paul declares that
believers ‘live by faith and not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7).
Today’s
world is a realm of uncertainties. On one hand, the rate of crime and
unemployment is soaring, while on the other, there are no absolutes any more –
no moral binding. Fidelity runs low in marriages and corruption seems to be the
only way to get work done. Faith is questioned and ridiculed and believers are
considered to be haters of the progressive world. Many a times, we face
unimaginable challenges at home, at our place of work and even within our
churches. Our walk of faith is challenged every step of the way and at times, it
may seem like a lonesome battle.
But
be of good courage! You are not alone! Those that have gone before us have
shown that unwavering faith in God is rewarded albeit in God’s perfect time. The
Bible talks about a number of ordinary men and women who exhibited extra
ordinary faith in their lives when faced with testing circumstances.
Abraham
had a promise, yet was now walking up a mountain to sacrifice his beloved son.
Joseph had a dream, yet found himself in a prison charged with sexual offense.
Moses had a mandate, but found himself constantly harassed by an unbelieving
and grumbling people. David was anointed, yet found himself being chased by the
King. Daniel enjoyed a good position in the king’s palace, yet was constantly
plotted against by his colleagues. The apostles were diligent in their service
to the Lord, yet their journey was replete with persecution. Inspite of all
this, the Bible records that they continued their walk of faith. They never
compromised nor ever grew weary of doing what was good and right in the eyes of
the Lord and the Lord showed himself to be faithful in their lives in due time.
Dear
friends, whatever may be the challenges you are facing today, continue to trust
that God is faithful! Rejoice knowing that God is with you and on your side. He
has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. His birth, suffering,
death and resurrection, that we so intensely meditate on during this season of
lent, are proof of His eternal goodness and faithfulness. And so, as Paul says, let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor. 4: 18).
‘I
pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in
your inner being, so that Christ may
dwell in your hearts through faith. And I
pray that you, being rooted and established in
love, may have power,
together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and
long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all
the fullness of God.’
(Ephesians
3: 16-19)
Author - Jennifer L. Sumitra
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